Apparatus for visual training



Sept. 3, 1940. H. H. BWG-Gs 2,213,484

APPARATUS FOR VISUAL TRAINING Filed July 22. 1939 3 Sheets-,Sheet l mi 39 36 ,25g-fpm; 30 3?; N5 @i ilim; 6 f`\ f8 Q6 A 120 nfsy Z5 .m ,7, E @fg ,7706 @g3 fil wf/f HENRY HR/ias Gttorncg APPARATUS FOR VSUAL TRAINING Filed July 22, 1939 3 Sheets-Shelt 2 HP2-'6 39,

#e .,v [9 5 Q6 38 /1/ 43 i /Q945 5955 58 Slluentox I Hen/RY H. 521565 E? 5 IB i dttorncu Sept 3, 1940- H. H. B'RlGGs I 2,213,484

APPARATUS FOR VISUAL TRAINING Filed July 22, 1 939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zmventor Cttorneg HENRY H. 15E/@5s Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED ans, i

T OFFICE 2 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to an apparatus for visual training and more especially to a compact instrument which will assist patients in obtaining fusion sense, stero sense, to stimulate the Visual sense of eyes of a subnormal Vision, to stimulate single binocular vision, and to correct neuromuscular anomalies. In other words, this instrument is designed for general ortho-optic training. In addition to the above, this instrument has incorl0 porated therein facilities which will assist the eye specialist in the diagnosis of orthoptic and neuromuscular anomalies and diagnosis of the visual eld.

It is an object of this invention to produce stereoscopic motion pictures in pairs, the images of which are projected upon a screen so that the right image is seen by the right eye only and the left image is seen by the left eye only, thereby stimulating the duction of the eye muscles and stimulating the sense of fusion and depth perception. The invention, in part, comprises a conventional moving picture projector and a screen onto which pairs of moving images are simultaneously projected for observation by the patient.

A reflecting mechanism is disposed between the projector and the screen for independently controlling the relative position of each image on the screen and also for simultaneously shifting the position oi both images on the screen without disturbing their relation to each other.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reflecting mechanism which is adapted to operate with a combination of instruments as above described, including means for Varying the limits within which the position of spaced images may be shifted on the screen. Sometimes, even when the spaced images are positioned the proper distance apart, the patient is unable to fuse these objects into one. It is often necessary to move these objects laterally, back and forth across the screen, without disturbing their relative positions to thereby create the desire for immediate fusion and muscle coordination.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a diagnostic instrument comprising an inclined framework with lens therein through which a patient views stereoscopic or double images on a suitable screen from a natural position, said framework having angularly disposed mirrors mounted thereon for reflecting images of the patients eyes to a point where they can be observed by a specialist as the patient views the images on the screen. Mirrors are so positioned on the framework that the light reflected from l the screen onto the eye enables the specialist to (Cl. 12S-76.5)

View relative eye positions simultaneously without the aid of any other light source.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an apparatus comprising a screen and a framework for supporting a pair of lens at a 5 higher elevation than the screen and through which a person views the screen, said lens being adapted to operate in conjunction with a filter whereby the light from one image may be reduced creating a difference in light stimulation 10 to the two eyes. The iilter used with the lens uniformly gradated from oney end to the other with the opaqueness gradually diminishing. The position that the gradated slide or lter occupies relative to the lens determines the amount of y1li light stimulation or visual acuity of the eye.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whichi V20 Figure 1 is an isometric view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a View showing a portion of lm used in the projector shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the method employed in the production of the iilm; 25

Figure 4 is an isometric view looking at the opposite side of the invention from that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan detail View taken along the line lil-5 in Figure 1, showing the 30 mechanism for Varying the limits within which the position of spaced images on the screen may be Varied; v

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view taken along the line 6 6 in Figure l;` 35

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view taken along the line l--l in Figure 1; I

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8 9 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along 4,0 the line 9-9 in Figure 7;

Figurel 10 is a side elevation of a slightly modi-- fied form of reflecting mechanism which has means incorporated l therein for independently adjusting the mirrors about their horizontal 45 axes.

Figure 11 is a top plan View of Figure 10.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the

l numeral Il! denotes a conventional projector having reels Il and I2. A suitable stereoscopic lm 50 I@ is adapted to unwind from reel II and pass through projector lil and onto reel I2. Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the stereoscopic film I4, and it is here seen that images I5 and I6 are produced on this iilm.` Usually the image I5 is 55 taken at a slightly different angle from the image i6 thereby producing a stereoscopic effect when viewed through the apparatus which will hereinafter be described.

When the projector l is in. operation and the lm Iii is passing therethrough, the image i6 will be projected as at i8 upon a mirror I9; whereas the image l will be projected as at 2G upon mirror 2l. These mirrors are set at such an angle that the images will be reilected upon an inclined screen 22 as at 23 and 24. It will be noted that the screen 22 is inclined so that its surface is substantially parallel to the surfaces of the mirrors I9 and 2i so that the reiiected images on the screen will not be distorted.

The mirrors i9 and 2| are secured to one side of metallic plates 25 and 25, respectively (Figures l, 4 and 6), said plates being hinged upon a common bolt or pivot 2l which, in turn, is mounted in lugs 28 extending from one side of a fixed plate 29. The plate 29 has adjustment screws 3d and 3l threadably secured therein and the ends of these screws are adapted to contact the back sides oi plates 25 and 25 respectively. Disposed around the bolt 2l is a torsion spring 32 which normally tends to 'rotate the plates 25 and 2S so that the back sides thereof press 'against the projecting ends of screws 39 and 3l, respectively. Therefore, by manipulating the thumb screws SG and 3l, the horizontal adjustment of the mirrors i9 and 2l about bolt 27 can be effected.

The plate 29 is pivotally secured as at 35 to an upwardly projecting bracket 36 which has its lower end pivoted to post 3l as at 38. The extreme upper end of the bracket 36 has an adjustable screw 3S threadably secured therein with its threaded end normally contacting the upper edge of plate 2S. The lower edge of the plate 29 has one end of a compression spring 40 abutting thereagainst (Figures 4 and 6) which spring normally holds the upper side of the plate 29 against the end of the thumb screw 39. By manipulating this screw 3S it is possible to vary the angularity of both mirrors i9 and 2l simultaneously about pivot 35, so that the position of points 23 and 24 on the screen 22 can be varied vertically. The pivot or bolt 38 is lxedly secured in the support 33 but is rotatably secured in the upper end of post 3l (Figures 1 and 4). The upper end of bolt 38 has a lever arm 43 lixedly secured thereon, the lower end of which is forked to accommodate a pin 44. This pin is mounted in the upper end of a lever 45, said'lever being pivoted as at 46 intermediate its ends to the post 3l. The lower end of the lever 45 has rotatably mounted therein one end of horion- "tally disposed handle 48 (see Figure 5) and diswpqsedon each side'of the lever 45 and penetrat- I`thehandle 48 is an arcuate prong 43. These arcuate members diverge away from each other dsicleslof the post 3l. Since the han- "tatably'niounted in the lower end of tj v identxby turning the handle in r 45Jthat'vthe" position of the diverging prongsd canwberaised or lowered. When Mdsffo thejprongll"areyraised the clearand'nthepost 39 is at a YM y onlyfajslight amount f` lon or leverjlljaboutfpivotV iiiKV can be s 'is rota d may:y from Ytrie,observerinnigw free ends ofrongsflltl will Vbe Tereby.. allowing`v the 'handle about pivot 46 before one of the prongs 49 engages the post 3l; whereas if the handle 48 is rotated in the opposite direction, the amount of rotation about the pivot point 4S will be lessened accordingly. The angle through which lever 45 and arm 48 is rotated about pivot point 46 determines the angle through which the mirrors I9 and 2l are rotated about their pivot 33.

Secured to the post 3l directly below the handle :i3 is a head rest 55. This head rest is used as a guide for positioning the head of a patient relative to the lenses in the framework therebelow. It will be noted that the head rest 55 has a pair of prongs 56 integral therewith, said prongs being positioned on opposed sides of the post 3l. Suitable slots 57 are cut in these prongs, which slots are penetrated by a bolt 58 which bolt also penetrates the support or post 31. The bolt @'33 has a nut 59 on one end and a handle 6|! on the other, so that when the handle 60 is rotated the nut 49 can be loosened to allow the head rest 55 to be adjusted.

Secured to the post 3l as at 55 is a lens holder or framework 66. One side of this frame has a stationary prismatic lens ST mounted therein and the other side has a rotatable prismatic lens 68 mounted therein, the lens 68 having a handle @il integral therewith which extends upwardly through a slot 'l0 in the framework. The slot l@ is oi sufficient length to allow the handle 69 and lens S3 to be rotated through substantially an angle of 45 degrees thereby varying the position of the lens to conform to the needs of the patients eye. In the present instance the lens employed is a seven inch, seven degree prism,

and is adapted to be mounted in a suitable friction bearing Each end of framework has a hood orhousing ll. The distance between these hoods is sufficient to admitany spectacles that the patient may be wearing. These hoods or housings are adapted to support guides l2 and 'I3 which slidably support prism slides 14. The length of these guides is sufficient to allow the prism slides 'i4 to be moved to an inoperative position as shown in Figures 1 and 4 where the View through the prisms 61 or S8 will not be obstructed, or if desired, the slides 14 may be moved to the posisition shown in Figures 7 and 8 at which time the prism disposed in the slides will work in con-4 junction with the prisms 6l land 68. l

Each slide has a squared hole 16 therein and over which suitable prisms 'H are adapted to lit.

In order to furnish a guiding means so that these prisms will be properly located relative tof' the hole 16, projections 'i8 and 19 have been provided. Also an angle member 80 has been secured to slide 'M at a point adjacent the lower side of hole 19, rsaid angle member having an outstanding leg upon which the lower edge of the prism is adapted to rest.

The outstanding leg of this angle has an arcuate slot 8l cut therein which is penetrated by an upwardly extending end of a wire member 83. By observing Figure 8, it will be seen that the lower end of this wire projects above the outstanding leg of angle member 80 just a suicient amount to properly engage the lower side of the prism 11 and to hold it against the slide 14. The wire member 83 has its intermediate portion rotatably mounted in the outstanding leg of angle member 80 `and also in the outstanding leg of another angle member 84, this y r`angle member 84 being likewise secured to slide 48 andl'ever A45 to'rota'te througl1""`a'l greater angle 14T The portion of wire 83 above the angle member 84 extends laterally and then upwardly forming a loop 85 and then downwardly having its end pressing against the top of the lens TI.

It is therefore seen that the extremities of the wires 'I3 are normally held against the exterior of the prisms TI. The means for normally pressing these extremities against the prism comprises a torsion spring 83 which is disposed around the intermediate portion of the wire. One end of the spring is secured to the upper portion of wire 83 and its other end is anchored to the outstanding leg of angle member 80. By providing such an arrangement, the lens is easily held in any position over the hole 73 and it also may be removed very quickly. The purpose of providing the guides 'l2 and I3 is to permit the bodily movement of the lens and slide 'I6 to and from operative position.

As heretofore stated, when the patient is viewing an image on the screen through the prisms 61, 538 and 'I'I it is often necessary to cut down the light stimulation or visual acuity of one eye with relation to the other. In order to effect this purpose, I have employed vertical felt lined guides S2, in association with each of the lenses 61 and 63. Between these guide members a filter glass 93 is inserted which is uniformly gradated with the opaque intensity being at a maximum at one end and gradually decreasing to a minimum at the other end (see Figures 7 and 8). AS will be noted in Figure 8 the filter is the densest at the top, the density gradually decreasing from top to bottom. Therefore, the farther that the filter 913 is pushed downwardly between the guides 92 then the greater will be the resistance to the light therethrough. 'It is not necessary to use this lter in but one set of guides at a time, because the light is diminished over the strongest eye, thus relatively increasing light stimulation to the poorer eye.

With the prisms and filters in operative position, the left eye of a patient is adapted to view the image 24 on the screen 22 through the prism 61, the filter 94 and prism Tl; whereas the right eye of the observer will view image 23 through the prism lens 68 and through the lens |'I. Since a septum |66 is provided, between lenses, it is evident that the left eye will see the lm inage I5 as at 24 and the right eye will see the film image I3 as at 23. When the proper set of lenses have been placed in the instrument and adjusted to the proper position, the two images will be superimposed one upon the other thereby fusing them into one object.

Due to the fact that the focal point of the patients eyes vary from time to time and vary with different patients, a means has been provided whereby the distance which the screen 22 occupies from the lenses may be varied accordingly. This means comprises a screen holder itl which has upper and lower inturned edges as at IllZ and |03. These inturned edges are adapted to slidably confine the edges of the screen 22 therein. When it is desired to remove screen 22, it is only necessary to pull it toward the observer in Figure 1. The intermediate portion of the screen holder |91 has a bracket |33 secured thereto and this bracket is slidably mounted upon a rod |95, said rod being a portion of the framework |96 which also supports post 31. In order to hold the bracket |63 and its associated member in adjustedv position, a set screw I3? has been provided.

When it is desired to use this instrument for diagnostic purposes, the screen 22 is removed and a chart'is inserted in lieu thereof; The surface of this chart will be substantially parallel to the lenses, what is at right angles to the line of sight of the patient. This arrangement is used for mapping out visual elds for diagnosing pathological conditions. The instrument may be also used as a regular steroscope to use the usual orthoptic training slides.

It is also desirable, at times, for the physician or eye specialist to observe the eyes of the patient while the patient is viewing the object on the screen 22. For this purpose a pair of mirrors H3 and have been secured to the lower side of the member 66. By .observing Figure 9, it is seen that these mirrors are inclined at a slight angle to the line of sight of the patient so that the image of the eye ||2 will strike the mirror as at H3. From this point the image will be reected upwardly. It is therefore seen that the physician may look down into these mirrors and observe the motion of the patients eyes while the patient is observing the pictures or images upon the screen.

Figure 3 schematically shows the method employed in the production of a pair of images such as I5 and I6 on a lm from a single object. The images of an object IILI strike mirrors ||5 and H6 as at ||'I and IIB, respectively. These images are then projected onto mirrors |29 and |2| as at |22 and |23 from whence they are projected onto camera lens |24 as at |25 and |26, respectively.

Figures and 11 show a slightly modified form of reflecting mechanism which has incorporated therein means for independently adjusting the reecting mirrors about their horizontal axes and also means for indicating the angularity through which the mirr'ors have been rotated. In this` mechanism, the plate 29 is pivoted to bracket 36 as in the preceding form; however, a pointer 29a has been added which is adapted to traverse suitable graduations |2'| on the bracket 36. This combination will enable the operator to ascertain the angularity through which the plate 29 has been turned about pivot 35.

Pivotally secured to one side of plate 29 as at 2'I are plate members |28 and |29. These plates are similar to plates 25 and 26, previously described, in that the free ends are resiliently held against the ends of screws 3U and 3| by means of a torsion spring 32; however, suitable pointers |39 and I3! are associated with plates |28 and |29 respectively and these pointers traverse graduations |32 on member' 29 so as to indicate the angle through which the plates have been rotated.

The plates |23 and |29 have mirrors |33 and |34 pivoted thereto on horizontal shafts |35 and |36, respectively. An adjusting screw |38 is threadably secured in each of plates |28 and |29, the ends of said screws being adapted to contact the upper back side of each of the mirrors |33 and |32. A compression spring |39 is disposed between the plate |23 and mirror |33 at a point below shaft |35. A similar spring is disposed between plate |29 and mirror |34 at a point below shaft |36.

Each of the mirrors |33 and |34 has a pointer |43 associated therewith which traverses graduations UII to indicate the angle through which mirrors |33 and |33 rotate about their respective shafts |35 and |36. By mounting the mirrors |33 and |33 upon the shafts |35 and |36 in the manner shown an additional independent adjustment is obtained which is not present in the preceding form.

In the drawings and specication, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for visual training comprising a screen, a pair of lenses through which a patient views the screen, a pair of reilectors for reilecting a pair of images on the screen, means for individually adjusting the position oi the reectors to move the image reilected thereby laterally of the screen, single means for simultaneously adjusting the position of the reflectors to move the image vertically of the screen, a plate supporting the reflectors, a bracket mounted on a vertical pivot for supporting the plate,` an arm extending from the bracket, and a lever engaging the arm to move the bracket on its pivot to thereby move the reflected images simultaneously in the same direction On the screen.

2. Apparatus for visual training such as exercising the muscles of the eyes, comprising a screen, a pair of reflectors, onto which an image is adapted to be projected to be reflected onto the screen, a framework for supporting the screen and reflectors, a reflector supporting bracket supported on a vertical pivot at its lower end on the framework, a plate pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot on said bracket, each of said reilectors being supported on a vertically disposed pivot at their proximate ends, means for individually swinging the reflectors on their vertical pivots, means for swinging said plate on its horizontal pivot, an arm carried by sai-d bracket, and a lever engaging said arm for swinging the bracket on its Vertical pivot to thereby move the reflected images simultaneously in the same direction on said screen.

HENRY H. BRIGGS. 

